1852 Naval Air Squadron

Last updated

1852 Naval Air Squadron
Active1 February - 18 August 1945 [1]
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
TypeSingle-seat fighter squadron
RoleFighter squadron
SizeEighteen aircraft
Part of Fleet Air Arm
Home stationSee Naval air stations section for full list.
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Lieutenant Commander(A) I.F. Voller, RNVR
Insignia
Identification Markings1V10+
single letters (May 1945)
Aircraft flown
Fighter Vought Corsair
A Fleet Air Arm Goodyear FG-1D Corsair FG-1D Corsair - VE Day Anniversary Airshow Duxford 2015 (18056154706).jpg
A Fleet Air Arm Goodyear FG-1D Corsair

1852 Naval Air Squadron (1852 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It formed at RN Air Section Brunswick, in the United States on 1 February 1945 as a fighter squadron, with eighteen Vought Corsair Mk IV fighter aircraft. Following deck landing training aboard the USS Charger, it embarked in HMS Patroller for the United Kingdom on 5 May. It disembarked to HMS Gadwall, RNAS Belfast, on 25 May, but due to V-J Day it disbanded on 29 August.

Contents

History

Single-seat fighter squadron (1945)

1852 Naval Air Squadron formed on 1 February 1945 in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick, which was located at United States Naval Air Station (USNAS) Brunswick, Maine, as a Single Seat Fighter Squadron, [2] under the command of Lieutenant Commander(A) I.F. Voller, RNVR. [3]

It was equipped with eighteen Vought Corsair aircraft, an American carrier-borne fighter-bomber. These were the Goodyear built FG-1D variant, designated Corsair Mk IV by the Fleet Air Arm. [4] Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landings (ADDLs) were undertaken at the nearby Bar Harbor Naval Auxiliary Air Facility (NAAF), Bar Harbor, Maine. The squadron flew to RN Air Section Norfolk situated at USNAS Norfolk, to enable it to undertake Deck Landing Training (DLT) with the escort carrier USS Charger, before returning to RN Air Section Brunswick. [5] It then returned to RN Air Section Norfolk arriving on 30 April for embarkation in the Ruler-class escort carrierHMS Patroller, for transportation to the United Kingdom. [6]

By the May all aircrew, equipment and aircraft were embarked in HMS Patroller, at Naval Station Norfolk, and she sailed to New York City to embark further passengers. On 10 May HMS Patroller then joined Convoy CU 69 and sailed for Belfast, Northern Ireland. 1852 Naval Air Squadron disembarked on 25 May to Royal Naval Air Maintenance Yard Belfast. [5]

The squadron moved to RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), Derry, Northern Ireland, the next day, and while here it began to convert from a normal reflector gunsight to a gyro gunsight. [3] The squadron was to form part of the 18th Carrier Air Group, along with 822 Naval Air Squadron. When the Japanese surrendered on 15 August, the 18th Carrier Air Group became unnecessary and on 29 August the squadron moved to RNAS Nutts Corner (HMS Pintail), County Antrim, Northern Ireland, disbanding on arrival. [7]

Aircraft flown

1852 Naval Air Squadron flew only one aircraft type: [7]

1852 Naval Air Squadron operated from a naval air stations of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom, a number overseas, and a Royal Navy escort carrier: [7]

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 1852 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment: [3] [7]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1850 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1853 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

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1843 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm between 1943 and 1945 and then a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Squadron from 1953 to 1957. It formed in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick, in May 1944, as a fighter squadron. It arrived in the UK aboard HMS Trouncer in August. Based at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland and training at HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr, Scotland, the squadron had deck landing training aboard HMS Patroller in December, before joining HMS Arbiter in February 1945, as part of the 10th Naval Fighter Wing. Sailing to Australia, the squadron became part of the 3rd Carrier Air Group, but saw no action before the war ended and disbanded in October 1945. It reformed as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch anti-submarine squadron, in the Scottish Air Division, from 1953 and disbanded in 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1845 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

1845 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It formed at RN Air Section Brunswick, United States, in June 1944 as a fighter squadron, with eighteen Vought Corsair Mk III fighter aircraft. It embarked in HMS Puncher on 30 August, disembarking to HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland, on 18 September and joining the 10th Naval Fighter Wing. It re-equipped with twenty-four Vought Corsair Mk IV, and embarked HMS Slinger in December, sailing for the British Pacific Fleet, the squadron was disbanded in April 1945, and its aircraft and personnel absorbed into squadrons aboard the aircraft carriers HMS Formidable and HMS Victorious. On 1 June it reformed in Australia as a single seater fighter squadron at HMS Nabsford, RNAMY Archerfield, Queensland, and it shortly later became a spare squadron in the 3rd Carrier Air Group at HMS Nabbington, RNAS Nowra, New South Wales. With the end of the Second World War the squadron disbanded on 24 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1846 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

1846 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It formed at RN Air Section Brunswick in July 1944 as a fighter squadron, with eighteen Vought Corsair Mk III fighter aircraft. It embarked in HMS Ranee in October, disembarking to HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton at the beginning of November, where it expanded to twenty-four aircraft by absorbing part of the disbanded 1848 Naval Air Squadron. In February 1945, it re-equipped with Vought Corsair Mk IV, having joined HMS Colossus at the start of the year. The aircraft carrier departed for the Far East in February, and its aircraft formed part of the 14th Carrier Air Group when this formed in June at HMS Valluru, Royal Naval Aircraft Maintenance Yard Tambaram. The squadron was too late for World War II, and eventually disbanded at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, in July 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1848 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

1848 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It officially formed in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick, in July 1944 as a fighter squadron. It was quipped with Vought Corsair fighter aircraft. The squadron embarked in HMS Ranee in October for the Atlantic crossing back to the United Kingdom. However, soon after arrival it disbanded at HMS Landrail, at RNAS Machrihanish, in November, its resources shared equally between 1843, 1845 and 1846 Naval Air Squadrons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1849 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

1849 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It formed in the United States at RN Air Section Brunswick as a fighter squadron at the start of 1944, equipped with Vought Corsair fighter aircraft. It embarked in HMS Reaper for transport to the UK in November. The squadron suffered from a high accident rate and disbanded on arrival in the UK, in December, with its aircraft and personnel dispersed between 1845 and 1850 Naval Air Squadrons.

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References

Citations

  1. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 360.
  2. "Brunswick". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Wragg 2019, p. 199.
  4. Thetford 1991, pp. 80&83.
  5. 1 2 "A history of 1852 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Naval Air Squadrons 1938 - present day. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  6. "Norfolk". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 299.

Bibliography